Monday, March 10, 2008

So I just started a new, albeit temporary, job as a telemarketer. We sell a service that helps people clear up their credit reports. Technically, I'm a paralegal--but I don't handle law cases, and I never speak to an attorney. Basically, I think the title is just to make us feel valued.

So what is a college graduate doing working at a call center? Well, that's none of your business.

But today was my first day. Well, my first real day. Last week was an exhilarating week of training that lead to two days of "practice" sales. Meaning that we were on the phones, and anything we screwed up would politely be cleaned up by our trainer and a smile.

Not so much today.

Not that I screwed up or anything today. In fact, it was quite successful. In 8 hours I made one sale and contacted over 240 people. I left more than 185 messages on voicemail, and had two people get all the way through my spiel only to ask me to call back tomorrow. Not excruciating at all.

Not that I blame them, mind you. It's not like I won't enjoy a nice break from the monotony of 5 rings and someone ending with: "...have a blessed day." It'll be a downright joy to actually speak with a living soul who isn't questioning me up and down thinking that "I'm John from ________" is code for "why is this ____ calling my wife/girlfriend/boyfriend?!"

But either way, it's not too bad. Sure, I just spent good money and time on a college education that got me a nice job as a creative team member with a company that had to downsize two months later and has now led me to a call center that will pay me a commission or $6 dollars per hour.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

I'm not sure which is worse: Going crazy and knowing it, or doing the whole thing as an unabashed ignoramus.

Either way, I'm off to law school in the fall. The University of Oklahoma School of Law, to be precise. (I feel that I need to say cliches like thatin order to fit in with all the courtroom drama I see unfold on television.)

In all honesty, I'm really excited. The studying that might feel like taking a tack hammer to the skull isn't so exciting--but in a way, it sort of is.

So in order to perfect my legalese, I need to get out of my write-as-much-as-possible-with-as-few-words-as-possible way of going about things. Apparently in legal writing, if you can write something in 789 words that the typical person writes in a little under 9.5, you're on your way.

It should be a good time. And if anyone has any ideas as to which medication I should be on, please feel free to let me know.

**By the way, the photo was taken from a website called wackyboxes2005.com.